The Green Gander cover from the May 1925 issue.

The May 1925 cover of The Green Gander, Iowa State College’s student humor magazine, offers a visually dense representation of campus culture in the early twentieth century. Founded in 1915 by the men’s journalism honorary society Sigma Delta Chi, The Green Gander functioned as a platform for satirical expression and student identity making. This particular issue prominently features elements associated with VEISHEA, the then newly established student run festival that began in 1922 and combined the celebrations of Iowa State’s colleges of veterinary medicine, engineering, industrial science, home economics, and agriculture. The illustrated cover depicts recognizable campus landmarks, most notably Beardshear Hall and the university’s clocktower surrounded by students. At the center stands a male student marked with a large “A” and carrying a fraternity paddle, signifying the importance of Greek life to campus culture during this period. In the sky above, stars and planetary forms appear to possibly reference “Stars Over VEISHEA,” the annual student produced theatrical performance. There is also a picture of a woman holding a pie which is representative of the home ec students baking cherry pies to fundraise. Collectively, these elements construct a vivid snapshot of collegiate life in 1925, filtered through humor and artistic exaggeration.